Ivanovic calls for focus

10 Apr 2009 09:54:46

Branislav Ivanovic is refusing to accept that Chelsea have already secured UEFA Champions League progress.
The Blues stunned Liverpool on Wednesday as they claimed a 3-1 victory in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.
That tie is now set to head to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday with Guus Hiddink's side seemingly destined to book a place in the last four.
Ivanovic, Chelsea's two-goal hero from the first meeting, accepts that the Blues have taken a positive step towards the semi-finals, but has warned his team-mates against complacency as they look to prolong their European adventure.
He told gazzetta.gr: "I am very excited. I can't believe that I scored twice and we won, but it happened.
"We played fantastically well. Chelsea deserves to be at this stage of the competition. Personally, I was looking for a performance like the one I put in against Liverpool.
"When you have the chance to show what you are worth, you must take advantage of that opportunity. That's what I wanted to do from the first minute.
"Chelsea are enjoying a fantastic time at the moment. We want to do the best we can and we show this on the field. Of course we are a team with personality and this is very important in the games.
"With this victory we have taken a huge step towards qualification, but you can never say that we are already in the next round.
"Liverpool are a big club. They know us, we know them. We have only played the first half so far. In the second half we must be focused like we were at Anfield. This is the key to qualification.
"The night at Anfield was the best of my career. No doubt about it. I wish the next best night of my career to be the night in Rome as we win the Champions League, but it's too early to speak about that.
"We have to play the second leg against Liverpool and also it's very possible to play against Barcelona (in the semi-finals). We have a long way to go.
"Hiddink? He is a fantastic manager. He has managed to teach us his own mentality. He has something special that makes the team know how to move on the field. He has some secrets as a manager and I believe that he can lead us very far.
"About the rumours that I will leave Chelsea, I would like to say that I want to stay here. I am very happy to play for Chelsea"